Tales Of The Wisp ~AYU INDAH

PART 3~ WIND BACK IN TIME

"Where am I?"

I had no idea how I got here, but suddenly I was outside in open air, far removed from the stifling kitchen where I'd just been. The cool breeze fanning my face was the first thing I noticed—a strange relief from that suffocating garlic-laden heat.

Gradually, I became aware that I had fallen. I lay sprawled on the damp ground, breathing in the earthy smell of mossy grass. Brushing dirt from my face and hair, I sat up and looked around. I was in a small clearing overgrown with grass.

Note to self: we need to mow the lawn.

"What just happened?" I muttered aloud, shaking my head as if to clear the lingering fog.

I called out, "Pa? Honey!" My voice wavered, reaching into the eerie quiet. "Paaa!" My words sliced through the silence, the syllables echoing with a desperation that made my own skin crawl.

But there was only stillness, a blanket of silence heavy enough to muffle the familiar sounds of life. Confusion washed over me. Wait—where is everyone?

"Hellooo!" I called again. "Nai?"

As I pushed myself to my feet, a chill crept up my spine. The scene around me was unsettlingly unfamiliar. This is not the garden, I thought, my heartbeat picking up as my surroundings seemed to loom larger.

I stood there, the shadows around me thick and lingering, as if the world had moved on without me.

The air was charged, wild and free, filled with the mingling scents of pine and rich soil. Towering trees stretched toward the sky, their dense branches casting deep shadows. Somewhere, an animal's cry echoed faintly, a reminder of nature's wild presence here. The whole place felt raw, alive, and fierce.

How the hell did I get here?

Every rustle in the bushes, every distant bird call sent a shiver down my spine. I tried calling out again, "Hello!" but no one answered.

Where was my house?

Aside from the sounds of the forest, there was nothing. I was utterly alone.

I forced myself to breathe deeply, in and out, trying to calm the anxious flutter in my chest. After a while, the panic faded, replaced by a prickling curiosity.

Think... I was in the kitchen with Nai. She was showing me how to brew tea. I remember feeling dizzy, and then...her story...and then I'm here.

Was I bewitched?

"Tabi-tabi po. Tabi-tabi po," I called, asking forgiveness from whatever spirits or entities might dwell in this strange land. "I didn't mean to intrude or harm you, Po."

I was standing in a wide valley, encircled by distant hills and mountains that looked eerily familiar. The sun blazed overhead in a clear sky, bathing the landscape in scorching heat. A warm breeze brushed my face, but instead of relief, I felt prickles of unease.

I looked around, squinting. Where am I?

A narrow, well-trodden path cut through the tall cogon grass, its rough blades scratching at my knees. Prickly crabgrass pods clung to the hem of my dress. The trees bordering the clearing were massive—not the usual lines of coconut palms I was used to seeing, but ancient hardwoods with deep, dark leaves. Beyond them, the jungle loomed, shadowy and dense.

Following the path, I hurried toward the shade, hoping to escape the sun's punishing heat.

In the distance, I saw two figures moving across the open field, laboring over the land, pulling up weeds and brush.

"Oh, thank God!" I breathed in relief. Finally—people! I'm not alone in this... place!

"Nong! Nong! Hallooo! Maayooo!" I hollered, waving my arms wildly. But they were too far off to notice.

The heat was oppressive, the sun burning against my skin. Panting, I jogged to the edge of the trail, where a canopy of trees offered shade. I glanced around for a place to rest and spotted an old fallen tree. I cleared a spot by brushing away leaves with a broken branch, then slouched against the trunk, stretching out my legs in the shade.

This is ridiculous, I thought, feeling the sting of sunburn and a bead of sweat trickle down my back. Thousands spent on my skincare, gone! Freckles and skin discolorations, here I come.

As I sat, trying to gather my thoughts, a familiar sound drifted through the trees.

It was Nai.